Multiplication operators defined by covering maps on the Bergman space: the connection between operator theory and von Neumann algebras (Q629707)

Let \(\mathbb D\) be the open unit disk in the complex plane and let \(L^2_a(\mathbb D)\) be the corresponding Bergman space. Let also \(\phi\) be a bounded holomorphic function on \(\mathbb D\) and let \(M_\phi\) be the multiplication operator on \(L^2_a(\mathbb D)\), with symbol \(\phi\). The von Neumann algebra generated by \(M_\phi\) is denoted by \(\mathcal W^*(\phi)\), while its commutant is denoted by \(\mathcal V^*(\phi)\). A first interesting problem in this context is to study the algebras \(\mathcal W^*(\phi)\) and \(\mathcal V^*(\phi)\), which leads to a better understanding of the connexion between complex analysis and von Neumann algebras. Secondly, when \(\phi\) is a holomorphic covering map onto a bounded planar domain, the authors emphasize the relations among the algebras \(\mathcal W^*(\phi)\), \(\mathcal V^*(\phi)\), the geometric properties of the domain, and a long-standing problem in free group factors. Thirdly, showing that for many bounded planar domains the reducing subspace lattice of \(M_\phi\) is saturated, they obtain the existence of rich invariant subspaces for the operator \(M_\phi\).